Minju No Chong Holds Yeongnam Region Workers' Rally at Busan Port New Terminal

"Immediate Withdrawal of Work Commencement Order" Urged
Organizer Estimates 5,000 Participants
Police Deployed: 1,200
Busan Port Cargo Volume at 84% of Normal Levels

The general strike of the Cargo Solidarity under the Public Transport Workers' Union (hereinafter Cargo Solidarity) has continued for 10 days, and a large-scale rally by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions was held at Busan New Port. Photo by Busan Police Agency [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] As the general strike of the Cargo Solidarity under the Public Transport Workers' Union (hereinafter Cargo Solidarity) continues for the 10th day, a large-scale rally by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) was held at Busan New Port.

On the afternoon of the 3rd, KCTU held the "KCTU National Workers' Rally Yeongnam Regional Rally" around the Samgeori area of Busan New Port. Originally, a rally was planned in Seoul, but to support cargo workers at Busan New Port, the event was split into the Yeongnam regional workers' rally with members from the Busan, Ulsan, Daegu, Gyeongnam, and Gyeongbuk branches participating, and the Seoul national workers' rally. The number of participants reported to the police by the organizers for the Busan New Port rally was 5,000.

KCTU members demanded the revision of Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act and the suspension of privatization, pledging victory for the cargo workers' general strike. They also urged the immediate withdrawal of the work commencement order issued to cargo workers. After the rally, KCTU marched 1.8 km toward Pier 2 and 2.8 km toward Pier 4.

Busan Police Agency decided to respond strictly to any illegal acts by deploying a total of 1,200 personnel at ports and logistics terminals.

Meanwhile, as of 5 p.m. on the 2nd, container throughput at Busan Port was at 84% compared to normal times. This is a 250% increase compared to the 28th of last month, the day before the work commencement order. In particular, the volume of cargo moving in and out of Busan Port during the nighttime rose to 97% of normal levels, effectively marking a return to normal operations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.